2012 Emmy Nominations Announced
Every year, we wonder what surprises Emmy voters have in store for us this time, and most years we're disappointed to find it's the same exact shows and people who got nominated last year. Yes, Modern Family, I'm looking at you. Four out of six names in one category? Again? Now that's just greedy.
Still, the usual suspects managed to make room for some newly dominant names as well. Downton Abbey has some six acting nominations this year over last year's two, while Breaking Bad, left entirely out of last year's ceremonies due to its scheduling, is more powerful than ever with nominations for Anna Gunn and Giancarlo Esposito this time around. And as you probably guessed from the header image, Sherlock's leads are getting some well-deserved recognition this time. With regard to freshman series, it's nice to see that both Girls and New Girl are getting some attention from voters.
But sorry, comedy nerds — there's still nothing out there for Community, Happy Endings, or Ron Swanson. At least Louis C.K. managed to get into the Best Actor category again.
You'll have to head over to the Emmy website to get a list of all nominees, but hit the jump to get a look at some of the key categories.
Outstanding Drama Series:Boardwalk EmpireBreaking BadDownton AbbeyGame of ThronesHomelandMad MenOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Joanne Froggat, Downton Abbey
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Jared Harris, Mad Men
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie:American Horror StoryGame ChangeHatfields & McCoysHemingway & GellhornLutherSherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
Connie Britton, American Horror Story
Ashley Judd, Missing
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Emma Thompson, The Song of Lunch (Masterpiece)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Idris Elba, Luther
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
Frances Conroy, American Horror Story
Judy Davis, Page Eight (Masterpiece)
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Sarah Paulson, Game Change
Mare Winningham, Hatfields & McCoys
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys
Martin Freeman, Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Ed Harris, Game Change
Denis O'Hare, American Horror Story
David Strathairn, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Outstanding Variety Series:The Colbert ReportThe Daily Show with Jon StewartJimmy Kimmel LiveLate Night with Jimmy FallonReal Time with Bill MaherSaturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Program:The Amazing RaceDancing With the StarsProject RunwaySo You Think You Can DanceTop ChefThe VoiceOutstanding Host for a Reality:
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Betty White, Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Outstanding Comedy Series:The Big Bang TheoryCurb Your EnthusiasmGirlsModern Family30 RockVeepOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Outstanding Supporting Actress in Comedy Series:
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Merritt Weaver, Nurse Jackie
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
The 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, September 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel, himself a nominee for his late-night show, will host the live telecast on ABC. Head over to the Emmys website for a list of all nominees, including those that weren't named here.